Granger Danger ⇗ Fred Weasley

Ch. 20: He's Back [Part 2]

[this is a long one, full of feels - enemies of the heir, beware]

Ch. 20: He's Back [Part 2]

Song For Chapter: You Could Be Happy - Snow Patrol

   Hermione rushed towards us, Harry on her heels as she latched eyes on mine, "How'd you get away?" 

    Ginny craned her neck towards Ron, "Puking Pastels, it wasn't pretty...," she trailed off as Luna nodded lightly, thinking back to the rainbow display.

    Ron handed Harry his wand and I pulled Hermione's out of my pocket, I had made sure to snatch it off of Umbridge's desk as we ran out. "I'd told them I was hungry, they told me to bugger off and ate the lot themselves," he grinned, almost dopey, and Hermione's face spread into a sweet smile.

    "That was clever, Ron," She praised him as his ears burned a little, I bit back a chuckle at the exchange in compliments.

    "Uh," I piped up, eyes flickering from Hermione to Harry, "What'd you guys do with Umbridge's body?"

    Harry exchanged a look with Hermione and they both sighed, something definitely had happened. Before they could explain, Neville interrupted, pointing us all back towards the task at hand, "So, how are we getting to London?" He asked, puffing out his chest slightly as Luna eyed him.

    Harry furrowed his brow, shaking his head slightly, "Look, it's not as if I don't appreciate the help, but -"

    "- No, no, no," I stopped him right there, knowing that he was going to pull the 'hero' card and tell us to stay back, "Dumbledore's Army was supposed to be about doing something real," I added, Neville nodding beside me.

    "Or was that all just words to you?" He egged Harry on. Way to lay the guilt on thick, Neville. I'd thought to myself, sighing a little as the tightness in my chest throbbed. So much guilt today. I missed Fred's jokes already.

    "Maybe you don't have to do this all by yourself, mate," Ron edged closer to Hermione, but not enough for either of them to notice. Just I.

    Harry adjusted his glasses, eyes flickering from each of our faces. "So, how are we getting to London?" 

    "We fly, of course," Luna's airy voice floated up from beside Neville as we turned to look at her.

    Luna and Harry led us out into the fields behind Hagrid's hut, making sure no one saw us as we made our way out of the school's grounds. "Over there," Luna nodded, pointing a pale finger towards an open area where absolutely nothing was. 

    "Uh, Luna - I don't see anything," I frowned, glancing towards her as she rushed towards the middle of the field, extending a hand and stroking the air like a talented mime. 

    "Don't worry, Elle," She sent me a sweet smile, "They are very misunderstood creatures, Thestrals, but they won't hurt you."

    I turned my gaze away from the pixie girl and onto Hermione, "Hermione, she's petting thin air," I whispered to my twin as her eyes glazed over, thinking back on all her Care of Magical Creatures lessons, trying to remember where she'd heard the name Thestral before.

    "Luna's right," Hermione pipped up, a grin spreading onto her face as she maneuvered past me, stepping up beside Luna. "Luna, you can see them?" 

    "See what?" Ron questioned, raising a brow at the girls, "I don't see anything."

    Hermione chuckled as Luna nodded, jumping up in the air and swinging a small leg over nothing as if to straddle the back of a horse. She was floating in the air, nothing underneath her. "Thestrals are animals that can only be seen if one has seen death," Hermione commented, "They are said to have wings and can fly great distances, they can help us."